Display device

ABSTRACT

A display device is provided for making images of a movie, a TV or the like invisible to a driver while the vehicle is traveling, but at the same time visible to a passenger riding in a front passenger seat. A viewing angle control shutter  20  using a liquid crystal is disposed facing a front surface of a liquid crystal display panel  19 . When the vehicle is in a stopping state, the viewing angle control shutter  20  is set to off, thereby making the image that is displayed on the display panel  19  visible from the driver&#39;s seat side and the front passenger seat side. While the vehicle is traveling, the viewing angle control shutter  20  is driven such that the driver can watch an image produced by the navigation device  13 , but cannot watch an image reproduced by a DVD reproduction device  14.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a display device capable of switchingbetween a state in which an image is visible from one direction and astate in which the image is invisible from the one direction, whilemaintaining a state in which the image is visible from another specificdirection. More particularly, the present invention relates to a displaydevice suitable for a vehicle-mounted display device connected to avideo signal output device (hereunder, referred to as “video device”)such as a navigation device or a DVD reproducing device.

2. Description of the Related Art

Vehicles are equipped with not only audio devices such as a radio and aCD player, but also video devices such as a navigation device, atelevision (TV) tuner, and a DVD reproducing device. Accordingly, thevehicles are also provided with display devices for displaying theimages, such as a liquid crystal display panel and the like.

Currently, the vehicle-mounted display device tends to have a widerscreen. In such a display device with the wide-screen, for instance, thescreen is divided into two areas. In one of the areas is displayed a mapimage supplied by the navigation device, and in the other area isdisplayed images supplied by the TV tuner, the DVD reproducing device orthe like. This kind of display device is capable of the so-calleddouble-screen display (or multi-screen display).

However, for safety reasons, a driver is prohibited from watching theimages of a movie, a TV and the like while the vehicle is traveling. Forthis reason, the currently used vehicle-mounted video device is designedso as not to display the images of the movie or the TV during the travelof the vehicle. Therefore, although a passenger riding in a frontpassenger seat is not prohibited from watching the movie, the TV and soon, he nevertheless is not able to watch them during the travel of thevehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentionedtechnical background, and it is an object of the present invention toprovide a display device capable of switching between a state in whichan image is visible from one direction and a state in which the image isinvisible from the one direction, while maintaining a state in which theimage is visible from another specific direction.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a displaydevice having the function of making the images of the movie, the TV andthe like, invisible to the driver during the travel of the vehicle,while making the movie, the TV and the like, visible to a passengerriding in the front passenger seat even during traveling.

To overcome the foregoing problems, the present invention provides adisplay device including a display section, and a viewing angle controlshutter for switching between a first state in which an image displayedin a display range of at least one part of the display section isvisible from both of a first direction and a second direction, and asecond state in which the image is visible from only one of the firstdirection and the second direction.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a display devicethat is mounted on the vehicle, including a display section, a viewingangle control shutter for switching between a first state in which animage displayed in a display range of at least one part of the displaysection is visible from both of a first direction and a seconddirection, and a second state in which the image is visible from onlyone of the first direction and the second direction, a video signalswitching and synthesizing section for switching between or synthesizinga plurality of video signals to transmit the switched or synthesizedvideo signal to the display section, and for supplying a control signalresponsive to the video signal transmitted to the display section. Ashutter driving section is connected to a vehicle stopping-statedetecting sensor that detects whether or not the vehicle is in astopping state, and drives the viewing angle control shutter accordingto the control signal and an output from the vehicle stopping-statedetecting sensor.

The display device according to the present invention switches betweenthe viewing angles thereof, for example, using the viewing angle controlshutter for switching between the viewing angles by electricallychanging the orientation of liquid crystal molecules. While the vehicleis traveling, upon the display of the images from the DVD reproducingdevice or the TV, the viewing angle control shutter is driven to set thestate in which the images are invisible to the driver, but visible tothe passenger riding in the front passenger seat. Thus, the passengerriding in the front passenger seat can watch the movie or the TV evenduring the travel of the vehicle, but the driver cannot, to therebyensure safety while the vehicle is traveling. The viewing angle controlshutter may be a liquid crystal shutter that is capable of controllingthe viewing angles of the display device by electrically controlling theorientation of the liquid crystal molecules.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an audiovisual(AV) and vehicle navigation system using a display device of a firstpreferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a liquid crystal display panel and a viewing anglecontrol shutter of the first preferred embodiment in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a displaycontroller of the first preferred embodiment in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view showing the construction of theviewing angle control shutter of the first preferred embodiment inaccordance with the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing one example of a screen viewed from a frontpassenger seat in accordance with the first preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing one example of a screen viewed from adriver's seat in accordance with the first preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing one example in the case of displaying a mapimage on a full screen in accordance with the first preferred embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an audiovisual(AV) and vehicle navigation system using a display device of a secondpreferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing the construction of the viewing anglecontrol shutter of the second preferred embodiment in accordance withthe present invention.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a displaycontroller of the second preferred embodiment in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing one example of a screen viewed from a frontpassenger seat in accordance with the second preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing the construction of a displaydevice of a third preferred embodiment in accordance with the presentinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A display device according to embodiments of the present invention willbe described in detail hereinafter with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment)

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an audiovisual(AV) and vehicle navigation system using a display device of a firstpreferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the AV and vehicle navigation system includes adisplay device 11, a stopping-state detecting sensor 12, a navigationdevice 13, a DVD reproducing device 14, an audio device 15, an amplifier16, and a speaker 17. The display device 11 may be connected to othervideo devices such as a TV tuner and the like. However, to simplify thefollowing explanation of the system, in this embodiment the displaydevice 11 is connected only to the navigation device 13 and the DVDreproducing device 14, each of which is provided as a video device.

The stopping-state detecting sensor 12 is a sensor that detects whetheror not the vehicle is in a stopping state. As examples, such astopping-state detecting sensor 12 can be a speed sensor for detectingthe traveling speed of the vehicle, a sensor for detecting the state ofthe brakes, or the like.

The navigation device 13 contains a map database, a global positioningsystem (GPS) receiver, a self-contained navigation sensor, and the like.By use of the map database, the GPS receiver, and the self-containednavigation sensor, the navigation device 13 detects a present positionof the vehicle and supplies a video signal for displaying a map imagecovering the present vehicle position and its surroundings, a videosignal for displaying an enlarged intersection map (hereinafter, simplyreferred to as “map image”) marked with an arrow indicating thetraveling direction of the vehicle, and an audio signal for voiceguidance.

The display device 11 includes a display controller 18, a liquid crystaldisplay panel 19, and a viewing angle control shutter 20. The viewingangle control shutter 20, as shown in FIG. 2, is attached to the frontsurface (display surface) of the liquid crystal display panel 19. Thisviewing angle control shutter 20 is composed of a first shutter portion20 a that controls a viewing angle on the left side thereof with itscenter as a border, and a second shutter portion 20 b that controls aviewing angle on the right side thereof. The viewing angle controlshutter 20 will be explained in more detail later.

The display controller 18 individually controls the first shutterportion 20 a and the second shutter portion 20 b, to thereby make theimages reproduced by the DVD reproducing device 14 invisible to thedriver while the vehicle is traveling. Instead of the liquid crystaldisplay panel 19, other displays such as a cathode ray tube (CRT) or anorganic electro luminescence (EL) display panel may be used.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the displaycontroller 18. Referring now to FIG. 3, the display controller 18includes a video signal switching and synthesizing section 21, an audiosignal switching section 22, and a shutter driving section 23. To thevideo signal switching and synthesizing section 21 is provided videosignals from the navigation device 13 and the DVD reproducing device 14,and then the video signal switching and synthesizing section 21transmits to the liquid crystal display panel 19 one of theabove-mentioned video signals or a signal into which both video signalsare synthesized, according to a user's instruction. Further, the videosignal switching and synthesizing section 21 supplies control signalsresponsive to the processes of switching between and/or synthesizing thevideo signals to the audio signal switching section 22 and the shutterdriving section 23.

To the audio signal switching section 22 is provided audio signals fromthe navigation device 13 and the DVD reproducing device 14, and then theaudio signal switching section 22 transmits to the audio device 15 oneof the above-mentioned audio signals or both, based on the controlsignal supplied from the video signal switching and synthesizing section21. The shutter driving section 23 generates a first driving signal fordriving the first shutter portion 20 a of the viewing angle controlshutter 20 and a second driving signal for driving the second shutterportion 20 b, according to the control signal supplied from the videosignal switching and synthesizing section 21 and a signal supplied fromthe stopping-state detecting sensor 12.

The audio device 15 switches between the audio signal transmitted fromthe navigation device 13 or the DVD reproducing device 14 via thedisplay controller 18, and the audio signal from a CD player and/or aradio tuner embedded in the audio device 15. The audio signal providedby the audio device 15 is transmitted to the speaker 17 via theamplifier 16.

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view showing the construction of oneembodiment of the viewing angle control shutter 20. FIG. 4 shows anenlarged area corresponding to one pixel of the liquid crystal displaypanel 19.

The viewing angle control shutter 20 is arranged on (on the displaysurface of) the liquid crystal display panel 19 and includes transparentglass substrates 31 and 35, a liquid crystal 33 sealed between thesesubstrates 31 and 35, polarizing plates 36 and 37 that are arrangedfacing the lower surface of the glass substrate 31 and the upper surfaceof the glass substrate 35, respectively, and microprism 38 a and 38 bdisposed on the polarizing plate 37. As shown in FIG. 4, the area of onepixel of the liquid crystal display panel 19 corresponds to twosame-sized areas 30 a and 30 b into which the viewing angle controlshutter 20 is divided.

On the liquid crystal 33 side (the upper surface) of the substrate 31 isformed a transparent electrode 32 a that is made of indium-tin oxide(ITO) or the like. The transparent electrode 32 a is formed only in thearea 30 a, not the area 30 b.

On the liquid crystal 33 side (the lower surface) of the substrate 35 isformed a transparent common electrode 34 that has the same size as thedisplay area of the liquid crystal display panel 19 and is made of ITOor the like. The electrodes 32 a and 34 and the liquid crystal 33 thatis sandwiched between the electrodes 32 a and 34 constitute shuttercells. Each shutter cell of the first shutter portion 20 a (see FIG. 2)is driven according to the first driving signal supplied from thedisplay controller 18, and each shutter cell of the second shutterportion 20 b is driven according to the second driving signal suppliedfrom the display controller 18.

The microprisms 38 a and 38 b are right-triangular-shaped in crosssection, respectively, and are arranged on the polarizing plate 37 backto back. In detail, the microprism 38 a is disposed on the area 30 aside, while the microprism 38 b is disposed on the area 30 b side.

In the viewing angle control shutter 20 having the above-mentionedconfiguration, in the state in which a voltage is not applied betweenthe electrode 32 a and the electrode 34, light passing through thepixels of the liquid crystal display panel 19 is transmitted through thelayers between the polarizing plates 36 and 37 to reach the microprisms38 a and 38 b. The light in the area 30 a is refracted by the microprism38 a to travel toward the driver's seat. The light in the area 30 b isrefracted by the microprism 38 b to travel toward the front passengerseat side. Accordingly, at this time the driver and the passenger ridingin the front passenger seat can watch the same image on the screen.

When a predetermined voltage is applied between the electrode 32 a andthe electrode 34, the orientation of the liquid crystal moleculespositioned between the electrode 32 a and the electrode 34 are changed,such that the light in the area 30 a is interrupted. Thus, the imagedisplayed on the liquid crystal display panel 19 becomes invisible tothe driver. In contrast, the light in the area 30 b passes through thelayers between the polarizing plates 36 and 37, such that the imagedisplayed on the liquid crystal display panel 19 is visible to thepassenger riding in the front passenger seat.

The operation of the AV and vehicle navigation system having theabove-mentioned configuration will be described hereinafter.

When the stopping-state detecting sensor 12 detects a stopping state ofthe vehicle, the display controller 18 sets the viewing angle controlshutter 20 into an off state (not applying voltage). In this state, thedisplay controller 18 transmits to the liquid crystal display panel 19one of the video signals from the navigation device 13 and the DVDreproducing device 14, or the signal into which both video signals aresynthesized, according to the user's setting. Thus, when the vehicle isin the stopping state, not only the passenger riding in the frontpassenger seat but also the driver can watch the map image supplied bythe navigation device 13 and the movie reproduced by the DVD reproducingdevice 14.

While the vehicle is traveling, the display controller 18 controls theviewing angle control shutter 20 so as to make the image that isreproduced by the DVD reproducing device 14 invisible to the driver,according to the signal from the stopping-state detecting sensor 19. Forinstance, when displaying the image from the navigation device 13 andthe image from the DVD reproducing device 14 on the display device 12 ina double-screen display mode, the shutter portion positioned on the sideof displaying the image from the DVD reproducing device 14 (in thisexample, the first shutter portion 20 a) is set to off. Thus, as shownin FIG. 5, from the front passenger seat is visible not only the mapimage supplied from the navigation device 13, but also the moviereproduced by the DVD reproducing device 14. However, as shown in FIG.6, the image positioned in the display range for displaying the moviereproduced by the DVD reproducing device 14 is interrupted by theviewing angle control shutter 20 (specifically, the first shutterportion 20 a), such that the driver cannot watch the movie. It should benoted that the driver can listen to the voice from the speaker 17.

After the reproduction of the movie is finished, the DVD reproducingdevice 14 stops supplying the video signal, and a full-screen displaymode is automatically set by the display controller 18, such that themap image supplied from the navigation device 13 is displayed on thefull screen of the liquid crystal display panel 19 as shown in FIG. 7.At this time, the viewing angle control shutter 20 enters the off state(not applying voltage), so that the map image displayed on the liquidcrystal display panel 19 is visible from both of the driver's seat andthe front passenger seat.

If it is desired that the movie reproduced by the DVD reproducing device14 is displayed in the full-screen display mode while the vehicle istraveling, the display controller 18 drives the first and second shutterportions 20 a and 20 b of the viewing angle control shutter 20, wherebythe passenger riding in the front passenger seat can watch the moviereproduced by the DVD reproducing device in the full-screen displaymode, but the driver cannot watch the movie.

As described above, in one preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, the display controller 18 controls the viewing angle controlshutter 20, according to the output from the stopping-state detectingsensor 19 and the output from the navigation device 13 and the DVDreproducing device 14. Thus, even while the vehicle is traveling, thepassenger riding in the front passenger seat can watch the moviereproduced by the DVD reproducing device 14. Further, even if the movieis being reproduced by the DVD reproducing device 14, the driver cannotwatch the movie while the vehicle is traveling, to thereby ensure safetyduring the travel of the vehicle.

(Second Embodiment)

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an AV and vehiclenavigation system using a display device of a second preferredembodiment in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 9 is aschematic view showing the construction of the viewing angle controlshutter of the second preferred embodiment; and FIG. 10 is a blockdiagram showing the configuration of a display controller of the secondpreferred embodiment. Note that in FIG. 8 and FIG. 10 the samecomponents as those shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 are given the samereference characters, respectively, and are not explained in detailhereunder.

First, referring now to FIG. 9, a viewing angle control shutter 42 willbe explained. The viewing angle control shutter 42 is disposed on thedisplay screen of the liquid crystal display panel 19, and has aplurality of shutter cells corresponding to the respective pixels of theliquid crystal display panel 19. These shutter cells can tilt the liquidcrystal molecules 43 in a predetermined direction by applying a voltagebetween a pair of electrodes (not shown) sandwiching the liquid crystal.In the state in which the liquid crystal molecules 43 are oriented inthe predetermined direction, light traveling along the major axis of theliquid crystal molecule 43 passes through the viewing angle controlshutter 42, while light traveling along the minor axis of the liquidcrystal molecule 43 is interrupted by the viewing angle control shutter42. Accordingly, the image displayed on the liquid crystal display panel19 is visible from the front passenger seat side, but is invisible fromthe driver's seat side.

The shutter cells of the viewing angle control shutter 42 areindividually controlled by a shutter driving section 53 of a displaycontroller 41. As shown in FIG. 10, supplied to a video signal switchingand synthesizing section 51 is a video signal provided from thenavigation device 13 and a video signal provided from the DVDreproducing device 14, and the video signal switching and synthesizingsection 51 supplies to the liquid crystal display panel 19 one of theabove-mentioned video signals or a signal into which both video signalsare synthesized, according to the user's setting. Further, the videosignal switching and synthesizing section 51 supplies to the shutterdriving section 53 display position data for indicating the displayrange of the images reproduced by the DVD reproducing device 14. In thisembodiment, the display range data is provided as the x and ycoordinates (X1, Y1) of the point positioned on the upper left corner ofa rectangular region where the images reproduced by the DVD reproducingdevice 14 are displayed, and the x and y coordinates (X2, Y2) of thepoint positioned on the lower right corner thereof, to the shutterdriving section 53.

The shutter driving section 53 drives all the shutter cells in the rangeof the images reproduced by the DVD reproducing device 14 according tothe display range data supplied from the video signal switching andsynthesizing section 51. Thus, as shown in FIG. 11, the passenger ridingin the front passenger seat can watch the map image provided by thenavigation device 13 and the movie reproduced by the DVD reproducingdevice 14 at the same time. But the driver can watch only the map imageprovided by the navigation device 13, and cannot watch the moviereproduced by the DVD reproducing device 14.

In the same way as the described first embodiment, according to thedisplay device of this embodiment, the movie reproduced by the DVDreproducing device 14 is constantly visible from the front passengerseat, but invisible from the driver's seat while the vehicle istraveling, to thereby ensure safety during the travel of the vehicle.

Further, in this embodiment the data indicating the display range of theimages reproduced by the DVD reproducing device 14 is transmitted fromthe video signal switching and synthesizing section 51 to the shutterdriving section 53. According to this data, the shutter driving section53 drives only the shutter cells positioned in the display range of theimages reproduced by the DVD reproducing device 14. Therefore, thedisplay device of this embodiment is applicable in the case ofdisplaying the images reproduced by the DVD reproducing device 14 at adesired position on the liquid crystal display panel 19.

(Third Embodiment)

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing the construction of a displaydevice of a third preferred embodiment in accordance with the presentinvention. It should be, however, noted that the same display controlleras that explained in the first embodiment or the second embodiment canbe used in the third embodiment, thus omitting the explanation of thedisplay controller.

In this embodiment, there is provided a viewing angle control shutter 63between a liquid crystal display panel 61 and a backlight 62. Theviewing angle control shutter 63 includes a plurality of cylindricallenses 71 that are arranged side by side, and a plurality of shuttercells 72. In the case where the shutter cells 72 are in the off state,light emitted from the backlight 62 is divided into a light beamtraveling toward the driver's seat and a light beam traveling toward thefront passenger seat by the cylindrical lenses 71. These light beamspass through the liquid crystal display panel 61 to travel toward therespective sides, namely the driver's seat side and the front passengerseat side, whereby the image displayed on the liquid crystal displaypanel 61 is visible from the driver's seat side and the front passengerseat side.

The shutter cells 72 each include a pair of transparent electrodes and aliquid crystal sandwiched between the transparent electrodes. Theshutter cells 72 are positioned in light paths leading toward thedriver's seat. There is no shutter cell in light paths leading towardthe front passenger seat. Therefore, when the light traveling toward thedriver's seat is interrupted by the shutter cells 72, the imagedisplayed on the liquid crystal display panel 61 is visible to thepassenger riding in the front passenger seat, but invisible to thedriver.

The display device of this embodiment provides the same kind of resultsas the display devices disclosed in the first and second embodimentsprovide.

It should be noted that in each of the described first, second and thirdembodiments, the present invention is not limited to the case where theviewing angle is controlled in such a manner that the images reproducedby the DVD reproducing device are invisible to the driver while thevehicle is traveling. For example, according to the present invention,when displaying the picture of a TV, moving images obtained from theInternet, or images produced by a TV telephone, such images may not bedisplayed to the driver, but may be displayed to the passenger riding inthe front passenger seat while the vehicle is traveling.

As described above in detail, the display device according to thepresent invention includes the display section, and the viewing anglecontrol shutter for switching between a first state in which the imagedisplayed in the display range of at least one part of the displaysection is visible from both of the first direction and the seconddirection, and a second state in which the image is visible from onlyone of the first direction and the second direction. In a specificapplication, while the vehicle is traveling, the movie reproduced by theDVD reproducing device is visible to the passenger riding in the frontpassenger seat, but invisible to the driver, to thereby ensure safetyduring the travel of the vehicle.

1. A display device comprising: a display section including at least twonon-overlapping display portions; and a viewing angle control shutterfor switching between a first state in which images displayed on both ofsaid two display portions of said display section are visible from bothof a first direction and a second direction, and a second state in whichan image on a first display portion of the display section is visiblefrom at least said first direction, but an image on a second displayportion of the display section is visible from only said seconddirection.
 2. The display device according to claim 1, wherein saidviewing angle control shutter is a liquid crystal shutter.
 3. Thedisplay device according to claim 1, wherein said first direction is adirection from a driver's seat to said display section, and said seconddirection is a direction from a passenger seat to said display section.4. A display device that is mounted on a vehicle, comprising: a displaysection including at least two non-overlapping display portions; aviewing angle control shutter for switching between a first state inwhich images displayed on both of said two display portions of saiddisplay section are visible from both of a first direction and a seconddirection, and a second state in which an image on a first displayportion of the display section is visible from at least said firstdirection, but an image on a second display portion of the displaysection is visible from only said second direction; a video signalswitching and synthesizing section for switching between or synthesizinga plurality of received video signals to supply said switched orsynthesized video signal to said display section, and for supplying acontrol signal responsive to said video signal supplied to said displaysection; and a shutter driving section connected to a vehiclestopping-state detecting sensor that detects whether or not the vehicleis in a stopping state, and for driving said viewing angle controlshutter according to said control signal and an output from said vehiclestopping-state detecting sensor.
 5. The display device according toclaim 4, wherein said viewing angle control shutter switches betweenviewing angles by electrically controlling the orientation of a liquidcrystal molecule.
 6. The display device according to claim 5, whereinsaid viewing angle control shutter tilts the liquid crystal molecule ina predetermined direction by applying a voltage between a pair ofelectrodes sandwiching a liquid crystal.
 7. The display device accordingto claim 4, wherein, when said shutter driving section receives fromsaid vehicle stopping-state detecting sensor a signal indicating thatthe vehicle is in the stopping state, said shutter driving sectiondrives said viewing angle control shutter into said first state.
 8. Thedisplay device according to claim 4, wherein, when said shutter drivingsection receives from said vehicle stopping-state detecting sensor asignal indicating that the vehicle is traveling, said shutter drivingsection drives said viewing angle control shutter into said secondstate.
 9. The display device according to claim 4, wherein, when saidshutter driving section receives a signal indicating that the vehicle istraveling from said vehicle stopping-state detecting sensor and a signalindicating a navigation image from said video signal switching andsynthesizing section, said shutter driving section drives said viewingangle control shutter into said first state.
 10. The display deviceaccording to claim 4, wherein, when said shutter driving sectionreceives a signal indicating that the vehicle is traveling from saidvehicle stopping-state detecting sensor and a signal indicating an imageto be reproduced by a moving image reproducing device from said videosignal switching and synthesizing section, said shutter driving sectiondrives said viewing angle control shutter into said second state. 11.The display device according to claim 4, wherein, when said shutterdriving section receives a signal indicating that the vehicle istraveling from said vehicle stopping-state detecting sensor, and screenrange data on an image to be reproduced by a moving image reproducingdevice from said video signal switching and synthesizing section, saidshutter driving section drives said viewing angle control shutter suchthat the screen range of the moving image to be reproduced is in saidsecond state.
 12. The display device according to claim 4, wherein, whensaid shutter driving section receives a signal indicating that thevehicle is traveling from said vehicle stopping-state detecting sensor,and navigation image range data and image range data to be reproduced bya moving image reproducing device from said video signal switching andsynthesizing section, said shutter driving section drives said viewingangle control shutter such that said navigation image range is in saidfirst state and said image range to be reproduced by the moving imagereproducing device is in said second state.
 13. The display deviceaccording to claim 12, wherein, when said moving image reproducingdevice stops transmitting the video signal, said video signal switchingand synthesizing section transmits a signal to said shutter drivingsection for displaying said navigation image on a full screen, andresponsive to said signal, said shutter driving section drives saidviewing angle control shutter such that said full screen is in saidfirst state.
 14. The display device according to claim 10, wherein saidmoving image reproducing device is one of a television or a DVDreproducing device.
 15. A method of operating a display devicecomprising: providing a display section including at least twonon-overlapping display portions; providing a viewing angle controlshutter; and switching the viewing angle control shutter between a firststate in which images displayed on both of said two display portions ofsaid display section are visible from both of a first direction and asecond direction different from said first direction, and a second statein which an image on a first display portion of the display section isvisible from at least said first direction, but an image on a seconddisplay portion of the display section is visible from said seconddirection and not from said first direction.
 16. The method according toclaim 15, wherein the viewing angle control shutter is a liquid crystalshutter. .
 17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the displaydevice is mounted in a vehicle, the first direction is from a driver'sseat to said display section, and the second direction is from apassenger seat to said display section.
 18. The method according toclaim 17, wherein the viewing angle control shutter is in said firststate when the vehicle is stopped, and the viewing angle control shutteris in said second state when the vehicle is traveling.